Carbon dioxide cooling machine

ABSTRACT

For use with a container, such as a food container, having a top opening therein there is provided a housing or shroud with an outlet defined by a margin adapted to fit against the container in registry with the opening. The shroud supports a shaft arranged on a generally horizontal axis and carrying a gas horn directed toward the outlet and the opening. The horn is supplied with carbon dioxide through a flexible tube and a control valve. The shaft is driven to oscillate between adjustable extremes. The shroud has a controlled discharge opening in addition to the outlet and preferably is suspended for movement over the container and is provided with means so that it can be lowered into abutment with the container and lifted therefrom.

United States Patent Sayers Jan. 21, 1975 [5 CARBON DIOXIDE COOLINGMACHINE Primary Examiner-Meyer Perlin [75] Inventor: William JohnSayers, Hacienda Ass'smnt Exammer'f Ronald Capossela Heights Calif.Attorney, Agent, or Fnm-Lothrop & West [73] Assignee: The Union IceCompany; San

Francisco, Calif. [57] ABSTRACT For use with a container, such as a foodcontainer, [22] Flled' Sept 1973 having a top opening therein there isprovided a hous- [21] Appl. No.: 397,999 ing or shroud with an outletdefined by a margin adapted to fit against the container in registrywith the [52] U S Cl 62/388 222/533 239/242 opening. The shroud supportsa shaft arranged on a [51] 525d 3/12 generally horizontal axis andcarrying a gas horn di- [58] Field 62/384 rected toward the outlet andthe opening The horn is 62/387 supplied with carbon dioxide through aflexible tube and a control valve. The shaft is driven to oscillatebetween adjustable extremes. The shroud has a con- [56] References cuedtrolled discharge opening in addition to the outlet and UNITED STATESPATENTS preferably is suspended for movement over the con- 2,058,97310/1936 Goosrnan 62/387 X tainer and is provided with means so that itcan be E i g 222,533 X lowered into abutment with the container andlifted oun ain 3,799,445 3 1974 Marino 239/242 therefrom 7 Claims, 5Drawing Figures CARBON DIOXIDE COOLING MACHINE In the preservation offood in large portable containers, especially for use in airplanetransport and the like, it is customary to afford containers havingopenings therein for the receipt of a refrigerant. Many different kindsof refrigerators have bee-n utilized with varying degrees of success.There is a requirement for a means for quickly supplying such containersin large numbers with adequate refrigerant and to do so without thenecessity of utilizing sophisticated labor or close supervision. Thereis furthermore a requirement for accomplishing the refrigeration in aneconomical, sanitary and satisfactory manner. There is also a generalrequirement for improving the refrigeration of such food transportcontainers.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a carbon dioxidecooling machine adapted to be utilized with available food containersand effective to refrigerate such containers quickly, easily andeffectively with carbon dioxide.

Another object of the invention is to provide a carbon dioxide coolingmachine that can readily be positioned and operated even by relativelyunskilled labor.

A further object of the invention is to provide a carbon dioxide coolingmachine that can simply and inexpensively be built and maintained.

A further object of the invention is in general to provide a carbondioxide cooling machine that is effective to distribute available carbondioxide to the receiving container.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a carbon dioxidecooling machine effective to provide a measured amount of refrigerant toa container.

A further object of the invention is to provide a carbon dioxide coolingmachine that is generally an improvement in the field of refrigeratingdevices.

Other objects, together with the foregoing, are attained in theembodiment of the invention described in the accompanying descriptionand illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a typical form of carbon dioxide coolingmachine pursuant to the invention arranged for use in connection withastandard container;

FIG. 2 is a cross-section, the plane of which is indicated by the line22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a detail, showing in cross-section, on the line 33 of FIG. 2,some of the interior construction of the device;

FIG. 4 is a view in cross-section, the planes of which are indicated bythe lines 44 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary detail, showing in crosssection on the line 55of FIG. 4, a part of the motor reversing mechanism.

While the carbon dioxide cooling machine pursuant to the invention canbe embodied in-a large number of different ways, partly depending uponthe environment of use, it has with success been incorporated as shownherein for operation in connection with a container 6 of a kind nowtypically used in connection with airplane transport and for containingfood for passenger consumption. The container 6 is usually an insulated,portable member adapted to rest on the floor 7. It is normally providedin its upper portion 8 or on top with a relatively narrow buttransversely elongated rectangular opening 9 bounded by a resilientgasket 11 or frame and normally closed by a hinged lid 12 carried on apivot shaft 13. The lid can be swung through 180 to open position to oneside of the opening 9, as shown in FIG. 1, andcan be swung back tooccupy the opening 9 against the gasket 11 to effectuate a proper, tightclosure. A latch 14 is provided to hold the lid in closed position undernormal circumstances.

In the area into which the filled container 6 is brought and disposedfor refrigeration, it is convenient to provide an overhead conveyor rail16 from whichv depends a movable frame 17 carried on rollers 18 so thatthe frame can be easily and quickly transported. On the frame 17 is alever 19 extending to a suitable hand or power control mechanism 21 atone end. The lever is pivoted at a fulcrum 22 intermediate its ends andat its far end is connected by a link 23 to a cooling machine structure24. There are guides 26 between the structure 24 and the frame 17 sothat upon operation of the lever 19 by the control 21, the structure 24can readily be lifted and lowered in a chosen location as established bythe instantaneous-position of the frame 17.

Mounted on the structure 24 or forming part thereof is a housing 31 orshroud conveniently constructed of sheet metal and having a generallyuniform dimension in a fore and aft direction but having an increase intransverse width from its upper portion toward its lower portion. Theshroud is of an approximately wedge shape or is approximately triangularin configuration in end elevation, as shown in FIG. 2. The shroud isdefined by a forward wall 32 and a rearward wall 33 as well asbysidewalls 34 and 36, the latter of which diverge in a downward directionand end in generally parallel lower portions 37 and 38. The bottom ofthe shroud has an outlet 39 defined by a margin 41, conveniently anangle iron, adapted to abut against and closely engage the generallyresilient gasket 11 on the container 6, when the shroud is properlypositioned relative thereto.

The upper portion of the shroud 31 is relatively narrow and the sidewalls 34 and 36 merge with generally parallel walls 42 and" 43 meeting atop wall 44. An aperture 46 in the top wall is extended by a tubularoutlet 47 in which a butterfly valve 48 is movably disposed. The tube 47is joined to a flexible hose 49 leading to a convenient discharge orexhaust mechanism.

Joined with the shroud 31 is a housing 51 including a frame plate 52 onwhich is mounted a bearing 53 carrying a horizontally disposed shaft 54extending from within the housing 51 through the closely fittingrearwardwall 33-into the interior of the shroud 31.

On the shroud-enclosed portion of the shaft 54 there is fastened afitting 56 connected to a gas horn 57 depending into the interior of theshroud and directed toward the outlet 39 thereof. The fitting 56 issupported on the body of a valve 58 controlled by a solenoid 59, thebody of the valve 58 being fixed on the shaft 54. There is a flexibleconnector 61 extending from the valve body to a tube 62 connectedto asuitable source of carbon dioxide (not shown).

The shaft 54 at its other end is joined through a double acting,overrunning or maximum torque slipping clutch 63 to a reduction gear 64on an electric motor 66. The motor is mounted on the plate S2'within thehousing 51 and is supplied with electricity from a suitable source.

In the electrical circuit to the motor 66 are interposed reversingswitches 67 and 68 supported on the plate 52. Each of the reversingswitches is actuated by a spring lever 69 and 71. These levers arerespectively in the oscillation path of actuators 72 and 73 extendingfrom collars 74 angularly settable on the shaft 54. Also in the circuitto the motor 66, as shown in FIG. 1, is a manually settable timer 76.There may also be main off and on switches and like control devices.

In the operation of the device, the lever 19 is actuated to hold themovable device in an upper position. The carriage frame 17 is then movedon the conveyor rail 16 into a position over the container 6. The lever19 is again actuated to lower the device so that the outlet 39 issubstantially coincident with the opening 9 and so that the margin 41 issealed by gravity against the gasket 11. The electrical mechanisms areenergized. The motor 66 then rotates the shaft 54 at the beginning of atime period as set by the timer 76. Also, and preferably simultaneously,the energized solenoid 59 opens the valve in the body 58. This permitscarbon dioxide under pressure to'flow through the tube 62 and throughthe connector 61 and the fitting 56 into the horn S7 for expansiontherein and discharge therefrom through the outlet 39.

The carbon dioxide from the horn travels through the outlet 39 andthrough the opening 9 into the container 6. Any container air which isdisplaced or any gas which is in excess travels upwardly and is carriedout through the outlet 47 to the exhaust system subject to control bythe valve or damper 48.

After the motor 66 has operated briefly it has rotated the shaft 54 toan extent to bring one of the actuators 72 or 73 into abutment with itsrespective switch lever 69 or 71. Whichever one of the switches is thusactuated is effective to reverse the direction of rotation of the motor66. This occurs at one extreme position of oscillation of the horn 57when the horn is near one of the side walls 34 or 36. The motor thenbeing reversed, operates in the opposite direction so that the shaft 54similarly oscillates in the reverse direction. The horn 57correspondingly is moved back in an arcuate traverse toward the oppositeone of the walls 34 or 36. When such wall is approached the otheractuator comes into abutment with the other switch lever and the motoris again reversed to resume its original direction of rotation. Shouldthere be a momentary jam, the excessive torque causes the clutch 63 toslip temporarily so there is no overload damage to the motor or theconnected mechanism.

In this way the horn is swept back and forth in an arcuate orpendulum-like path to discharge in various directions through the outlet39 and the opening 9 and thus to distribute the discharged carbondioxide in the container 6. This operation continues until the manuallyset timer 76 interrupts the electric circuit to the motor 66, thuscausing it to stop and likewise interrupts the circuit to the solenoid59 so that the valve 58 closes and prevents further in-flow of carbondioxide.

The setting of the timer and the angular setting of the actuators 72 and73 on the shaft 54 are all adjusted or arranged so that the oscillatingsweep of the horn is through an optimum angle and the period ofoperation of the mechanism is for a desired time span.

In this way there is afforded a means of introducing carbon dioxide to acontainer 6 for a predetermined period and over a predetermined area sothat appropriate refrigeration is attained. The mechanism upon theconclusion of the refrigeration step is lifted from the container 6 byoperation of the lever 19 and the mechanism can then be repeatedly andsimilarly utilized with successive containers.

What is claimed is:

l. A carbon dioxide cooling machine for use with a container having anopening comprising a frame including a substantially enclosed shroudhaving a margin defining an outlet, means for moving said shroud awayfrom and into abutment with said container with the interior of saidshroud in communication through said outlet and said opening with theinterior of said container, a shaft extending into said shroud, means onsaid frame for supporting said shaft for oscillation, a gas horn fixedon said shaft inside said shroud and directed toward said outlet, meanson said frame for oscillating said shaft and said horn from side to sideof said outlet, and means extending into said shroud and connected tosaid gas horn for supplying said gas horn with carbon dioxide.

2. A device as in claim 1 in which said opening is at the top of saidcontainer and said margin is at the bottom of said shroud and in whichsaid frame rests upon said container when said shroud is in abutmentwith said container.

3. A device as in claim 1 in which said shroud moving means suspendssaid frame from an overhead support.

4. A device as in claim 1 including means in addition to said outlet forreleasing gas from said shroud.

5. A device as in claim 4 including means for controlling flow throughsaid additional releasing means.

6. A device as in claim 1 in which said oscillating means includes areversible electric motor rotatably coupled to said shaft, an electricalswitch electrically connected for reversing said motor, and means onsaid shaft and effective in a fraction of one revolution of said shaftfor actuating said electrical switch.

7. A device as in claim 6 including means for changing the rotaryposition of said actuating means on said shaft.

1. A carbon dioxide cooling machine for use with a container having anopening comprising a frame including a substantially enclosed shroudhaving a margin defining an outlet, means for moving said shroud awayfrom and into abUtment with said container with the interior of saidshroud in communication through said outlet and said opening with theinterior of said container, a shaft extending into said shroud, means onsaid frame for supporting said shaft for oscillation, a gas horn fixedon said shaft inside said shroud and directed toward said outlet, meanson said frame for oscillating said shaft and said horn from side to sideof said outlet, and means extending into said shroud and connected tosaid gas horn for supplying said gas horn with carbon dioxide.
 2. Adevice as in claim 1 in which said opening is at the top of saidcontainer and said margin is at the bottom of said shroud and in whichsaid frame rests upon said container when said shroud is in abutmentwith said container.
 3. A device as in claim 1 in which said shroudmoving means suspends said frame from an overhead support.
 4. A deviceas in claim 1 including means in addition to said outlet for releasinggas from said shroud.
 5. A device as in claim 4 including means forcontrolling flow through said additional releasing means.
 6. A device asin claim 1 in which said oscillating means includes a reversibleelectric motor rotatably coupled to said shaft, an electrical switchelectrically connected for reversing said motor, and means on said shaftand effective in a fraction of one revolution of said shaft foractuating said electrical switch.
 7. A device as in claim 6 includingmeans for changing the rotary position of said actuating means on saidshaft.